Command changes Air Mobility Wing

Maj. Gen. Barbara Faulkenberry, 18th Air Force vice commander and presiding officer, passes the 305th Air Mobility Wing guidon to the incoming commander, Col. John F. Price Jr., during the 305th AMW change of command ceremony Friday at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Price served as vice commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., prior to his assignment with the “Can Do” wing.
(Photo:
Air Force photo by Russell Messeroll
)

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST – With a ceremonious passing of the unit guidon, Col. Richard Williamson Jr. transferred command of the 305th Air Mobility Wing on Friday to Col. John F. Price Jr. as service members and community partners gathered to watch.

Faulkenberry remarked Price will be commanding a wing that had involvement in many missions, hosted a plethora of aircraft on its aerial ports and delivered more than 8.4 million gallons of gasoline in its past two years. She concluded by expressing her assurance that Price's leadership will keep the steadfast wing moving into the future.

“Today, I have become your commander and that is an immense privilege and responsibility,” said Price. “Good leadership is about service and keeping our focus on those we have the opportunity to lead. I look forward to serving your families and you as we all continue to do the great work that has made this wing famous across the command.”

Price was the vice commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., prior to his assignment at the Joint Base. He is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flight hours, including 630 combat hours. He entered the Air Force in 1993 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Price was previously stationed to the Joint Base from 2008 to 2010 as commander of the 6th Airlift Squadron, a subsidiary unit of the 305th Air Mobility Wing.

In his final words to the wing and the Joint Base community, Williamson assured Price of the wing's ability to operate under his command and noted the wing has had three aircraft airborne at any given time over the past two years.

Williamson was awarded the Legion of Merit for his leadership of the 305th Air Mobility Wing before handing over the reins of command.

Price, in his new role as commander of the 'Can Do' wing, will provide global mobility support for national security objectives, combat operations, contingencies and humanitarian relief efforts worldwide through air refueling and airlift capabilities.

Williamson, the outgoing commander, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and entered the Air Force in 1991. He has been selected for reassignment to the Air Force Plans Division in Washington.

The 305th Air Mobility Wing provides U.S. military combatant commands with global reach by rapidly generating, mobilizing and deploying aircraft to conduct strategic airlift and air refueling missions worldwide.